Middle School / Senior School Psychology Teacher

Are you considering a change in 2025? Do you seek a position where your contributions are valued and students are willing and eager to participate and learn? The Cathedral School is seeking a Senior School Psychology Teacher to commence in January 2025. Experience teaching another subject area would also be favourably considered. The successful applicant will be working in a vibrant department with a great team of professionals.  At Cathedral we are excited about the future and cherish the opportunity to invest in the leaders of tomorrow. 

The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James located in Mundingburra is Townsville's only Independent Anglican School for boys and girls from Early Childhood to Year 12 and boarding students from Year 7 to 12. The school is set amongst a lagoon and lush tropical rain trees creating a wonderful canvas to inspire learning and creativity.  At Cathedral we 'educate for life-long success'. We know that this requires a well-rounded education and a focus on developing the "whole person" by nurturing the body and spirit as well as the mind. 

The salary is $87,900 for a 1st year teacher and $124,800 for a teacher with 8+ years teaching experience.

As a Psychology teacher you will be primarily responsible for:

• Planning, delivering, and evaluating innovative and inspiring learning experiences as identified in the school’s Teaching and Learning Framework to assist each child to reach their full potential – academically, physically, culturally socially, and spiritually.
• Providing exceptional pastoral care by establishing and maintaining a safe, happy, caring, inclusive, nurturing, and Christian environment which fosters and supports the learning and personal development of each child.

In fulfilling the role, you will be required to:

• Work individually and collaboratively to reflect on and improve their own practice and the practice of colleagues.
• Use student assessment data to improve teaching and learning.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, parents, and students via positive, respectful, and timely communication.

To be able to qualify for the position applicants must have the following qualifications and competencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any of the following:
  • Secondary Education
  • Psychology with a Graduate Diploma in Teaching
• Registration with the Queensland College of Teachers.
• Current First Aid and CPR certificates are required and must be kept up to date.

Competencies, Knowledge & Skills

• Relevant expertise in teaching Psychology.
• Experience teaching another subject area will be favourably considered.
• Willingness to adhere to the expectations of the school’s Teaching and Learning Framework.
• Ability to use student data in support of an evidence-based approach to innovation and quality.
• Ability to integrate technology into learning programs and lesson delivery for the enhancement of student outcomes. 
• Ability to differentiate for different learning styles through accepting individual differences in ability, need, and learning styles.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in the pursuit of team goals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including listening, communication, and consulting skills, that build and maintain positive and productive working relationships.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage conflict, difficult conversations and resolve issues proactively and respectfully.
• Willingness and ability to coordinate and/or take part in co-curricular activities.

The key accountabilities for the position are as follows:

Professional Knowledge

Know students and how they learn

• Select from a flexible and effective repertoire of teaching strategies to suit the physical, social, and intellectual development and characteristics of students. 
• Expand understanding of how students learn using research and workplace knowledge.
• Design and implement effective teaching strategies that address the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Design and implement effective teaching strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students using knowledge of and support from community representatives.
• Evaluate learning and teaching programs, using student assessment data, that are differentiated for the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
• Work with colleagues to access specialist knowledge, and relevant policy and legislation, to develop teaching programs that support the participation and learning of students with disability.

Know the content and how to teach it

• Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop and implement engaging learning and teaching programs.
• Organise content into coherent, well-sequenced, and innovative learning and teaching programs.
• Design and implement learning and teaching programs using contemporary knowledge and understanding of curriculum, assessment, and reporting requirements.
• Provide opportunities for students to develop understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and languages.
• Apply knowledge and understanding of effective teaching strategies to improve students’ literacy and numeracy achievement.
• Model high-level teaching knowledge and skills and use current ICT to improve teaching practice and make content relevant and meaningful.

Professional Practice

Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning

• Develop a culture of high expectations for all students by modelling and setting challenging learning goals.
• Plan, implement, evaluate, and modify learning and teaching programs to create productive learning environments that engage all students.
• Select and apply effective teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem solving, and critical and creative thinking.
• Select, create, and use a wide range of resources, including ICT, to engage students in their learning.
• Select and use a wide range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support students’ understanding, engagement, and achievement.
• Work with colleagues to review current teaching and learning programs using student feedback, student assessment data, knowledge of curriculum and workplace practices.
• Provide appropriate and contextually relevant opportunities for parents/carers to be involved in their children’s learning.

Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments

• Establish and implement inclusive strategies and positive interactions that engage and support all students.
• Establish and maintain a flexible repertoire of strategies for classroom management to ensure all students are engaged in purposeful activities.
• Manage challenging behaviour by establishing and negotiating clear expectations with students and address discipline issues promptly, fairly, and respectfully.
• Ensure students’ wellbeing and safety within school by implementing school, curriculum, and legislative requirements.
• Develop and incorporate strategies to promote the safe, responsible, and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching.

Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning

• Develop, select, and use a comprehensive range of informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative assessment strategies to assess student learning.
• Provide timely, effective, and targeted feedback to students about their achievement relative to their learning goals.
• Participate in assessment moderation activities to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning.
• Use data from internal and external student assessments for evaluating learning and teaching, identifying interventions, and modifying teaching practice.
• Report clearly, accurately, and respectfully to students and parents/carers about student learning and achievement, making use of accurate and reliable records.

Professional Engagement

Engage in professional learning

• Analyse the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to plan personal professional development goals.
• Plan for professional learning by accessing and critiquing relevant research and engage in high-quality targeted opportunities to improve practice.
• Contribute to collegial discussions and apply constructive feedback from colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice and the educational outcomes of students.
• Engage with colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of teacher professional learning activities to address student learning needs.

Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers, and the community

• Maintain high ethical standards, meet codes of ethics and conduct, and exercise sound judgement in all school and community contexts.
• Understand the implications of and comply with relevant legislative, administrative, organisational, and professional requirements, policies, and processes.
• Establish and maintain respectful collaborative relationships with parents/carers regarding their children’s learning and wellbeing.

Participate in professional and community networks and forums to broaden knowledge and improve practice.

All staff at Cathedral are expected to support the philosophies of the school, must either hold or be able to obtain a Blue Card and/or be registered with the Queensland College of Teachers.

Interested applicants who would like to be part of a thriving professional community can obtain further information by visiting our "Employment" page at www.cathedral.qld.edu.au.

Applying for the position

Applicants wishing to apply for the position are required to submit a cover letter and resume outlining their skills and experience providing 3 work references to which the school can contact.  Applications will be assessed as they arrive, so apply today!